Page 101 of Broken Blood Ties

Regardless, I want to rein her in. To clutch her back to me and tell her what I said wasn’t just for show.

Summer clears her throat and turns from me before she sniffs. Her shoulders roll, and irritation flickers in my chest at how quickly she’s trying to brush off my touch and my words.

Damn it. When did this get so complicated?

She wanders down the aisle, and I glance at the cart full of items.

“Just need one more thing,” Summer says.

“Aye. What’s that?”

She tosses a box on top of the already heaping pile. “Toothpaste for Cormac.”

* * *

The next two weeks are tormenting. Summer is in my house, but it’s rare I see her. Allie fills me in with how she spends her days. During the week, she’s up to help take Aoife to school, never missing a day. Then she’s back home, apparently, trying to help Allie with chores.

A few times she’s requested an escort for a walk, and Licon informed me she likes to spend her time at the marina.

Her cat, Deuce, has since made himself at home in my house. Aoife is elated and has already requested a kitten for Christmas, so Deuce can have a friend. The thought Summer may not be here for Christmas has sat with me since.

“Want another?” Lizzy asks, gesturing to my empty whiskey glass on the bar. It’s a quiet Saturday night, and while I really want another drink, I can’t. I’m in the ring tonight and another one would set me back.

“No. Water though.”

Lizzy nods and clears the glass from in front of me, replacing it with a bottle of water. “Thought you’d be home this weekend with your girls.”

I freeze, water halfway to my mouth, before resuming my sip. I shake my head. My girls. Her words eat at me. Summer’s not mine. Not even close.

“I’m too old for her, and she doesn’t want this life. It’s temporary.” I spew my words over the clinking glass and boisterous laughter of several dudes down the bar.

Lizzy wipes out a glass and turns it upside down on the shelf behind her. When she turns to face me, her lips press into a thin line. “You’re not too old. Have you askedherif your age is bothersome?”

I snort. “Doesn’t matter. She wants out of this life.” I fist the water bottle and squeeze harder.

“Prove her wrong.”

“Ye keep saying that, but she went through hell to get to a place where she was secure, and it hasn’t been that long. How can I be selfish when this isn’t what she wants?”

“You’re far from selfish, Kieran.” Lizzy unclips her hair, letting it fall around her shoulders and then pulls it back up again to get the wisps out of her face.

She’s wrong. I am selfish. I want a companion. A mother for Aoife. Happiness. Love. Commitment. Maybe more children. This engagement with Summer, yes, it’s to help her, but am I hoping to convince her this life—our life—can be hers, too?

Shite. Cormac’s right. I’m a sap. I need to punch someone.

Speaking of the annoying prick, Cormac strolls into the bar, sliding onto the barstool next to me.

“Hey, Lizzy,” he says with a sensual wink.

She bats her eyelashes at him then flips him off. He wrinkles his nose.

“How’s Summer?” he asks.

I roll my eyes. Cormac asks about her daily now, which is annoying as piss. Ever since she brought him the toothpaste that she overheard him bust me for, he’s had to check in about her.

“Fine.”

Lizzy smirks at me and then shuffles down the bar to top off the drinks of the guys at the end. I check my watch.